IDF reservists protest attacks by settlers at Yitzhar

Yitzhar was the site of a settler attack against an Israeli army patrol last month. Earlier this month, Yitzhar Rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburgh blamed the Israel Defense Forces and the Israeli government for provoking the attack.

In recent weeks, several “price tag” attacks intended to exact a price for Israeli government policies seen as detrimental to the settlement enterprise have been carried out in Israel and the West Bank.

“We regard defending Israel to be the highest value, both against terrorists from the outside and terrorists from within,” said Yair Fink, speaking at the May 18 rally, according to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. “As reservists, we draw a clear red line before there is a murder here, which could be that of a soldier or friend from the army.”

Gershon Mesika, head of the Shomron Regional Council, which includes Yitzhar, accused the protesters of “political demagoguery.” — jta